The Crosstown LRT is on its way! Construction reaches 75%
May 10, 2021

Excitement for the Eglinton Crosstown LRT is building. Metrolinx has installed more than 36 kilometres of track on the new light rail transit line, pushing construction progress over 75% and bringing 44 Broadway one step closer to yet another convenient transit option in this connected midtown hub.

Construction on this massive transit expansion, the largest in the history of Toronto, began in 2011, and, by the end of January 2020, it was 50% complete. A little over one year later, and progress has reached 75%. It may not be finished yet, but the LRT is already moving fast with a projected completion date of 2022!

The Crosstown LRT (also known as Line 5 in TTC parlance) will see 25 new stations on a 19-kilometre stretch with underground sections between Keele Street and Laird Drive. The route will move people across town up to 60% faster, connecting Mount Dennis (Weston Road) station in the west and Kennedy Station in the east, with links to TTC Lines 1, 2, and 3, and three GO Stations, not to mention the larger network of 54 bus routes serving the GTA.

Travelling well beyond the speed of buses and streetcars, and just a little slower than the subway, the Crosstown LRT vehicles (which can reach speeds of up to 80 km/hr) offer a fast, reliable and convenient transit solution in the city. Light rail cars carry more passengers than other types of above-ground transit - 15,000 passengers per hour per direction - and travel in dedicated right-of-way transit lanes, avoiding backups in regular traffic and cutting travel time. In total, 50 buses will be replaced by LRT vehicles, relieving congestion on the road, reducing fuel consumption, and decreasing greenhouse gases. With so many amazing benefits it’s no wonder people are eager to get on board!

Recent construction milestones and highlights on the Crosstown include:

Brentcliffe Portal

Crews have finished installing tracks westbound from the Brentcliffe portal, an underground tunnel opening at Eglinton Avenue East and Brentwood Road. This stretch will be put to the test later this spring when six light-rail vehicles begin vehicle testing.

Fairbanks Station

Major construction is now complete at platform level. Next, crews will head underground to install overhead power systems, station cabling, and more tracks.

Science Centre Station

The structural steel, glasswork, and lettering are in place, as well as station artwork including a colourful tiled wall featuring a rainbow of circles.

Laird & Leaside Stations

The construction teams are in the process of finishing the tracks between Laird and Leaside stations, just a few blocks east of Eglinton Station, where residents at 44 Broadway will have convenient access to two different subway lines.

Keelesdale Station

The penultimate station in the west, Keelesdale is now receiving finishing touches to landscaping and sidewalks.

Pharmacy Station

The first passenger-waiting shelter has been installed at Pharmacy Station.

Vehicle Testing

The new Bombardier trains are being put to the test. Before opening to the public, the 76 vehicles will undergo 600 kilometres of simulated service operation, including accelerations up to 80 km/h, and brake and door testing at every station.

The Crosstown LRT will make it easier than ever to connect across the city, to get to work, to visit friends, or just to head out and explore, and residents at 44 Broadway will be perfectly poised to jump on board, just minutes from the front door.

The Eglinton Crosstown LRT is scheduled to open in 2022. For the latest construction updates and milestones visit the Crosstown website at thecrosstown.ca. And for more information on 44 Broadway, register here.

Source: BlogTo